These are the thoughts and observations of me — a woman of a certain age (56). I'm single. I'm successful enough (independent, self supporting). I live in the burbs and work in the city (Chicago, the best city in the world). I'm an aunt, a friend and a colleague. I feel that voices like mine are rather underrepresented online or in print. So here I am. If my musings resonate with you, please visit my blog again sometime.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

He won't KILL them. He'll just WING them.

Tonight is our condo association meeting. If there was any way I could send Little Joe in my place, I would.

I'm in a bad mood about this gettogether for four reasons:

1) We just had a meeting a couple weeks ago, but not enough owners showed up to legally elect a board. I can't say that I blame my neighbors, exactly. If I could get out of these dismal affairs, I would. I kinda have to attend because of my neighbor Sally. In her 40s, she's deaf and slightly disabled due
to a stroke. She has asked
me to sit with her at these meetings and type so that she could read
what's being said from my laptop screen. Why not? I type for a living. I'm very
fast, and it seemed like a nice, neighborly thing to do.

The thing of it is, though, I don't want to hear the same old/same old complaints and problems yet again. I really don't. It's frustrating and stressful.

2) "I'm not on the board." My neighbor Brian stopped by last night and peppered me with questions about condo association doings for 45 fucking minutes. Among my answers were phrases like, "I'm not on the board," "You'll have to ask the board tomorrow," and "This is why I don't want to be on the board." I don't like all this drama in my home. I have stress at work and I want to relax at home. I don't want neighbors dropping by, rapping on my door, and bringing me their issues.

3) Plumbing Lady. (See post immediately below) My downstairs neighbor left a note on my door, saying that her stopped-up sink is my fault and my financial responsibility. She has no proof of this, and I don't see how I can possibly be the cause of her problem. I left her a voicemail, telling her we could discuss it at tonight's meeting. I don't want to talk to her about this. I want Little Joe to shoot her.

4) The POTUS. I'm a news junkie. A political geek. The State of the Union address is very important to me, and I will miss it because I'll be typing away so Sally can know what's going on. I know Sally can't help her deafness, I know it must complicate her life and I know I shouldn't resent helping her. Which makes me feel guilty on top of resentful.

So tonight, as I sit there, wishing it to be over, this will be my mantra. Provided by Snarkypants:

I am not on the board! I have no greater responsibility than any of 23 other owners. Plumbing Lady can't make me pay for something that isn't my fault. And hopefully, but 8:30 tonight, all this will be behind me.